Address plate



H. C. STOLL ADDRESS PLATE July s, 1941.`

Filed April 16, 1940 W31 R. O m V m 7 w i; f. f luv 6 Vl n .1, 6 l i 1 Nb w .A d. F7 W 1 M 4 1Q 6 M 3\ 1 w M m Hezzzyall,

`Patented July 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE ADDRESS PLATE Henry C.Stoll, Bronx,-N. Y. Application April .16, 1940, serial No. 329,947

Claims.

The invention herein disclosed relates to what are generally known asaddress plates, made up of embossedV printing plates removably mounted`on supporting frames.

Special objects of the invention are to facilitate the mounting of theprinting plates on the frames; to enable quick engagement of a plate ona frame by simply placing it over the frame and interlocking it with ashort sliding movement, instead of the full length sliding movementheretofore required; to provide accurate positioning and securing of theplate, with simple sturdy parts, easily and inexpensively produced andnot liable to be broken, bent or rendered inoperative; to enable readyidentification of the plates when mounted on the frames withoutreference to the index cards usually carried by such frames and ingeneral, to simplify and improve on the construction of such frames andplates.

'-I'he novel features of the inventionby which the foregoing and otherdesirable objects are attained are set forth in the followingspecification, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and broadlycoveredv in the claims. The drawing illustrates one practical commercialembodiment of the invention, Structure however may be modied and changedas regards -this particular illustration, all within the true intent andbroad scope of the invention as -fully seated condition.

Fig. 3 is a broken face view illustrating the plate secured in fullyseated position.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the parts as on substantiallythe line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a broken rear view showing how the back of the plate isexposed through the frame to enable direct reading of the letteringwithout need for reference to an index card.

As shown yin the several views, the frame or support 1, is provided witha guideway to slidingly receive the printing plate 8, and the channelfor holding the plate at the top is interrupted as indicated at 9, I0,in accordance with spacing of the projections I I, I2, on the upper edgeof the plate. The separated sections I3, I4, I5, oi this interruptedguide channel are open each at one end at IB, to admit such projectionsand closed at the opposite ends at I'I, to serve as stops for suchprojections, thus to limit sliding movement of the plate and todefinitely position the plate longitudinally on the frame.

The closed ends I'I, of the upper channel sections are shown as curvedor inclined substantially in accordance with the curvature orinclination of the projections II, I2, and I8, on the plate, thus tohave the effect of wedging the plate downward into'fully seated positionin the lower channel I9, when the plate is slipped into fully engagedposition beneath the upper channel portions or confining flanges,

The width of the plate between the projections II, l2, I8, is shown asslightly less than the distance between the bottom of the lower channelI9, and the lower edges of the upper channel forming elements so thatwhen the vplate is rested in the lower channel, it can be rocked backagainst the face of the frame if the two inner projections II, I2, arein register with the interruptions or spaces 9, I0, in the upperchannel.

As a consequence, such a plate can be assembled on a frame of thischaracter by simply placing the plate over the frame with its lower edgein the lower channel in position with the projections II, I2, in linewith the open spaces in the upper channel, as in Figs. 1 and 2, and thensliding the plate the slight distance necessary to carry the projectionsII, I2, I8, beneath the channel sections I3, I4, I5, provided to receivethe same. The stops I1, then engaged by the inner edges of projectionsII, I2, I8, limit the longitudinal sliding movement of the plate andaccurately position the plate on the frame. To releasably secure theplate thus located and held on the frame, spring tongue 20, is employedhaving the projecting shoulder 2I, to snap forwardly in back of the endedge of the plate, said abutment having a lip 22, by which it may bedepressed to release lthe plate.

As shown particularly in Fig. 2,y when the plate is positioned in thelower channel, preparatory to slipping it beneath the holding portionsof the upper channel, it overlies the Vprojecting abutment and releasingportion of the spring tongue and hence as its upper portion is'tippedback into Vthe plane of the frame, it can be utilized as a lever toforce back the spring tongue.

The locking tongue is thus thrust back out of the way in the simple actof locating the plate catch and sliding the plate just far enough tocarry the plate projections from beneath the holding clips. As soon asthis occurs, the spring tongue reacts to rock the plate forwardly thusactually to aid in the removing of the plate from the frame.

The embossrnent of the printing characters and the plate in reverseorder makes it so difficult to read such characters that the usualpractice is to provide an index card 23 carrying a ,print of :suchsubject matter on the frame above the plate.

A special feature of the present invention is the avoidance of thenecessity for such index Icard and the enabling of the reading of theprinting characters direct in the usual vorder byprovision of a windowor opening .24, in the guideway portion of the frame in back of theprinting a rarea of the plate. This construction as shown in Fig. 5,jmakes it possible to quickly and easily read the type matter by simplylooking at the back of the frame. This window also is a desirablefeature in reducing the weight of the frame.

While the number of sections composing the upper interrupted channel mayvary, it is found that three such sections and three correspondinglyspaced projections on the Vedge of the plate f are ordinarily desirable.The coacting inclined stop shoulders at the inner ends of the `channelsections and on the plate projections serve by their wedging action tothrust the plate solidly down in the lowering guide channel. However, f

only oneI set of such stop shoulders may be used, or .if desired, aseparate stop shoulder may be provided on the frame for engagement .bythe inner end of the plate. By locating the forwardly projecting springtongue or catch to cooperate with the outer end of the plate, said catchwill `then be disposed entirely in back of the plate when the latter isdropped into the lower channel with the projections in registration-with the spaces of the upper channel, applying a certain frictionaltension on the back of the plate,` which is of aid in temporarilyretaining the' plateon t-he frame and under reverse conditions, when thecatch is released and the plate slipped over sufficiently to clear theprojections from the channel sections, this catch then exertsspr'ingforce to tilt the plate forwardly and, 'tozsuch' Aextent, partlyexpelling the plate:from its holder or support; AActually veach one ofthe separated channel sections constitutes a separatejshort channelconfining the particular portion' of `the plate carrying the projectionwhich Vengages in that channel section. These short channels thus connedifferent portions in the lengthof the plate, preventing or overcomingfbendingortwist ing of the plate. The window opening# in the frameprovides a means by which the printing plate may be directly read at,the, back' ofilshe frame Aforcomparison with the index card `on the.front of the same, thus -enabling checking without removing the platefrom the frame as has heretofore been the practice. This direct readingfeature of the printing plate renders the index card actuallyunnecessary since the window, which may be in a single opening or inseveral smaller, appropriately placed openings can provide all necessaryidentification for practical purposes.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the character disclosed, the combination of a framehaving channels spaced in opposed relation to form a guideway, one ofsaid channels being of sectional structure with the sections composingthe same separated to leave spaces therebetween and a printing platehaving a body width to pass at one edge into the interrupted channelwhen the opposite edge ofthe plate is placed in the other channel andsaid plate having projections at said first mentioned edge to registerwith and enter the spaces between the separated channel sections and ofsuiiicient extent to engage within said channel sections uponlongitudinal shifting movement of the plate after registration of saidprojections with said spaces as described, said channel sections havingclosed inner ends engageable by said projections to serve as positioningstops for the plate.

2. In apparatus of the character disclosed,

`the combination of a frame having channels other c-hannel and saidplate having projections at said `first mentioned edge to register withvand enter the spaces between the separated channel sections 'and ofsuiiicient extent to engage within said channel section s uponlongitudinal shifting movement of the plate after registration of saidprojections with said spaces as described and a forwardly projectingspring catch on the 'frame for holding engagement with tlieplate whenthe latter is fully 4seated in the guideway,` said springV catch beingpositioned to stand in back of said plate in said preliminaryregistering of said plate on the frame and whereby said plate isoperable to depress said springcatch in the act of positioning andengaging the Aplate on the frame and whereby said spring' catch isoperative to tilt the plate for- AwardlyV when the projections thereonare released .from the channel sections in which they were engaged.

3. in apparatus of the character disclosed, thecombination of a framehaving a continuous lower channeland a sectional upper channel, thesections of the latter being separated to provide spaces therebetweenand a printing 4plate having 4projections on the upper edge of the samespaced-to register with said spaces between the upper channel sectionsand of an 'extenltfto enter into said channel sections when vtheloweredge of the plate is entered in the lower channel, stop means forlimiting the extent of .sliding movement of Athe plate on the frame, aforwardly projecting spring catch on the frame for holding engagementwith the plate when Athe;latter is so positionedrby said stop means,

saidl forwardly projecting spring Vcatch being positioned topstand inback of the plate when .the latter is inthe position of registration ofthe projections with the spaces between the channel sections to therebyoperate against the back of" Y,

the plate as a spring to assist in expelling the plate from the guidewaywhen the projections are freed of engagement with the channel sections.

4. In apparatus of the character disclosed, the combination of a framehaving a continuous lower channel and a sectional upper channel, thesections of the latter being separated to provide spaces therebetweenand a printing plate having projections on the upper edge of the samespaced to register with said spaces between the upper channel sectionsand of an extent to enter into said channel sections when the lower edgeof the plate is entered in the lower channel, said projections havingrounded entering edges and said channel sections having substantiallycorresponding shaped inner terminal ends for stop engagement therewith.

5. In apparatus of the characten disclosed, the combination of a supporthaving opposed channels forming a guideway, one of said channels beingof short length as compared with the opposite channel, a printing plateengageable at one edge in said longer channel and having a projection atthe opposite edge to engage within said shorter channel, cooperatingstop shoulders on said shorter length channel and plate projection and areleasab-le spring catch for retaining the plate in position with saidstop shoulders so engaged, said spring catch projecting forwardly on theframe in position engaging the back of the printing plate resting in thelonger channel and rocking the same forwardly when the projection onsaid plate is freed of theshorter channel.

HENRY C. STOLL.

